Illuminated handbag



y 1951 E. H. TERLINDE 2,554,603

ILLUMINATED HANDBAG Filed Aug. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 42 I9 24 4| 43 46 2| 44 45 Tn W R INVENTOR. EDWARD H. TERLI NDE May 29, 1951 E. H. TERLINDE ILLUMINATED HANDBAG Filed Aug. 17, 1946 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. EDWARD H. TERLI NDE QM g Patented May 29, 1951 UNiTED STATES i ATENT OFFICE HJLUMINATED HANDBAG Edward H. Terliiide, St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 17, 1946, Serial N0. 691,352

My invention relates to an improvement in illuminated hand bag wherein it is desired to provide a means of lighting the interior of the bag.

Hand bags in use at the present time are often large and bulky and contain numerous items. Because of their size and capacity, it is often diflicult to locate an article within the bag. This is particularly true in the case of keys or similar objects which are small in size and which often must be located in the dark.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a hand bag having incorporated therein a means of illuminating the interior of the hand bag. As a result objects such as keys or the like can-be readily found in the dark.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a hand bag incorporating a means for providing exterior illumination when desired. As a result a light may be provided for locating a key hole, door bell button or any lost article which otherwise might be difficult to find in the dark.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that in preferred form my illuminating means is located in the handle of the bag. I have found that hand bags are often made with handles of wood or plastic which are of sufficient size to permit easy insertion of a battery and the like. Thus without increasing the size of the hand bag or the handle thereof, it is often possible to provide a cavity of sufficient size to receive the necessary battery and light bulb.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a switch means which may be positioned exteriorly of the bag so that the light may be illuminated without opening the bag to operate a switch. It is oftentimes more simple to operate the switch while the bag is closed than after the bag is opened.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of tubes of plastic or the like which are capable of conducting light to remote points within the hand bag. The hand bags are often of sufiicient length so that a single centrally located bulb can not properly illuminate the entire interior thereof. Rather than to provide a plurality of light bulbs, I prefer to extend plastic tubing from the single bulb to remote points within the body of the bag so that i the entire interior of the bag may be properly illuminated.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the light bulb is preferably enclosed so that it can not readily be broken by 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-6.45)

the insertion or removal of articles from the bag. The bulb is preferably located in a socket within the handle and will not easily be injured by accidentally striking the same.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a hand bag handle showing an illuminating means incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional view transversely through the top of the bag and its handle, the position of the section being indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the switch which may be used to turn the illuminating means on and off.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a modified type of bag showing the illuminating means supported therein.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the handle, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the handle, the position of the section being indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the light assembly showing the manner in which the light may be removed and replaced.

The hand bag A illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings includes a hand bag body II] of any convenient or preferred type. This hand bag II) has an opening at its upper extremity, the edges of the hand bag openin being secured to a relatively rigid pair of frames II and I2. The frames II and I2 are pivotally connected at 9 and provides a means of supporting the bag body in open or closed position.

A handle I3 is pivotally connected at I4 to one frame member such as I I and is spring urged by spring means not illustrated into engagement with a projection I5 on the frame member I2 to hold the frame members II and I2 in closed position. The projection I5 preferably engages into the undersurface of the handle I3 to hold the bag closed. By slightly pivoting the handle I3 about its longitudinal pivots I4, the projection I5 may be released to permit the opening of the bag. As this structure is common in hand bags of this type, the latch construction of the bag has not been illustrated in detail.

Longitudinally extending aperture I6 is pro- 3 vided in one end of the handle I3 extending to a point near the center of the handle. This aperture I6 is of proper size to receive a dry cell battery I! of a type often used in small flash lights. An aperture I9 extends into the handle I3 from the lower surface thereof. The upper extremity of the apertures I9 is internally threaded as indicated at 20. A bulb 2I is threaded into the aperture I9 and is supported in fixedposition therein.

The apertures I6 and I9 intersect so that the projecting fixed contact 22 of the battery I? may engage against the threaded metal end 24 of the light bulb 2 I. The end or axial contact 25 of the bulb 2I is in contact with an elongated'metal strip 26 positioned in a groove along the upper edge of the aperture I6. This metal strip "23 extends to a point near the outer extremity of the handle aperture I6.

The switch device of the type illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings is engaged in the inner end of the aperture I6. This switch element is indicated in general by the numeral 27 and includes a threaded plug 29 which is designed to engage in internal threads 33 in the outer extremity of the aperture it. A flange 3| is provided on the outer end of the plug 29 and the periphery of this flange Si is preferably knurled to permit easy rotation thereof. A sleeve '32 is attached to the plug 29, this sleeve being of proper outer diameter to fit within the aperture II3.- A spring 33 is mounted within the sleeve 32 and is terminally connected at its inner end by a connectiont i extending through the sleeve to an external contact 3:,- on the surface of the sleeve 32. This external contact 35 extends longitudinally of the sleeve 32 and is provided with an arcuateend 35 extending a portion of the periphery of the sleeve 32.

In operation the sleeve 32 is rotated by the flange 3i until the contact 35 or its segment Mi engages the elongated metallic contact strip 26. As

'soon as electrical contact is made between the the'spring '3'3 arid-the connection as to the contact strip 35; The circuit further extends through the elongated strip 25 'to the axial contact of the'light bulb 2!. The metallic strip or sleeve 24 of the light bulb 2 i which forms the-second bulb contact is in engagement'with the other pole 22 ofthe battery I'l. Accordingly as'long as the contact 35 or its segment 35 is in engagement with the "Strip 2E the light bulb 2: will be illuminated.

As soon as the flange 3! isro'tated to disengage the contact between the-strip 26 and the contact 35, the'circuit to the light bulb 2i is broken.

For thepurpos'e' of'decoration, a plug 3? having an external flange 39, similar to the flange 3|, may "be supported in the opposite end of the handle i3 so as tor'nake' the handle symmetrical in appearance. The plug 3'! has no utility in the operation of the illuminating means.

As will be best illustrated in Figure l of the drawings a pair of plastic rods 40 and M, which 44 and "45, respectively, which extend into the body of the hand bag IE to assist in illuminating the interior thereof. The rods 44 45 may extend to a point near the bottom of the bag or may terminate in a downwardly inclined position as illustrated so as to direct light toward the bot- M are provided with downwardly extending ends tom of the bag near the ends thereof. In view of the fact that the rods 4|] and 4| terminate adjacent the light bulb 2I and as the apertures 42 and 43 intersect the rear aperture I9, light from the bulb 2! may be conducted into the interior of the bag through the rods 40 and 4| near the bulbs ZI to illuminate the opposite end portions of the bag interior.

'As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the frame member II is provided with a notch 46 therein immediately beneath the aperture I9. This notch 46 permits the light from the bulb I9 to be directed downwardly into the interior of'th e bag. Thus when the bag is opened the light from the bulb I9 will act to illuminate the interior of the bag and permit the distinguishing of the'various articles therein.

As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings the plastic'handle I3 may be provided with a recess or aperture 4'! therein. This aperture is either provided in the exterior surface of the handle I3 to extend into close proximity with the aperture I9 orelse communicates with the aperture I9 leaving a relatively thin wall 49 of plastic between the bulb 2I and the exterior. As a result the light from the bulb will shine through this relatively thin wall of plastic to permit a beam of light to shine externally of the bag. When it is desired to locate so'meobject in the dark, it is only necessary to close the circuit to the bulb 2| and to direct the beam of light passing through the thin plastic wall 49 in the desired direction.

In Figures 4-through '7 of the drawings'l disclose a modified'form of hand bag construction illustrated in general by the letter B. This hand bag B is provided with a body 49 which may be similar to the hand bag body Ifl'previously described. The body 49 is provided with an opening at the top thereof, the edges of the opening being bound by frames such as the frame 50. A handle illustrated in general by the numeral M is secured to the frame" 55 by means of which the hand bag can be carried.

The handle 5| illustrated in the drawing is formed of metal orelectrically conductive ma terial. Obviously, however, the handle 5I could be formed of other materialwithout greatly affe'cting the operation of the apparatus. The handle 5| is provided with hollow ends '52 and 53 and a hollow enlarged body 54 intermediate the'ends. The body 54 is provided with a substantially rectangular aperture '55 therein'near the top of the handle. A plate'56'which may be curvedto conform with the curvature of the'rest ofthe handle is provided to close the aperture This'p'late 56is'provided'with an off-set lip 51 at one end thereof designed to engage be neath the handle body adjacentone end of the aperture 55. A lip 59 is provided on the plate 53 at the other end thereof, this lip'59 being designed to extend into th'eend of the aperture opposite" that engagedb'ythe lip 51. A projection' 'fifi on the'plate-55 overlies 'aportion of the surface of the handle adjacent the last named end of the'aperture' 55 to' permit removal of the 'platewhen'dsired.

A pocket 6! is provided in the handle ad jacent the, aperture 55; The pocket 65 is formed by a pocket base member 62' and ap'ocket end The pocket 6| is of proper 's'iz'e'to contain abattery 64. A spring 65 is interposed between one end of the battery 54 and the metal end 63 of tei'y to the metallic bag hafidle.

A socket 66 of insulating material is mounted upon the undersurface of the plate 59. This socket 65 is provided with a slot 8'! in one side thereof. The socket 88 is internally threaded to accommodate a bulb 69. The slot 9 1 is of sufficient size to permit the projecting end '59 of the battery 54 to engage against the metal threads of the bulb 69, thereby connecting these metal threads to one terminal of the battery 54.

A spring strip 72 is secured to the plate 58 by any suitable means such as rivets '53. This spring strip '12 is provided with a bent contact end 14 designed to engage against the axial contact '15 of the light bulb 89. The button it is supported by the spring strip 1?. and extends through the aperture 1'1 in the plate 59. By depressing the button '18 the contact end i i of the strip 12 may be flexed into engagement with the axial contact T5 of the bulb 69, thereby closi a circuit with the battery to illuminate the bu '89. The circuit extends from the battery through the spring 65, the pocket end the plate; 58, strip 112, to one contact '55 of the bulb 69. The other contact ll of the bulb 89 is i'- electrical contact with the second terminal '18 of the battery 64.

An aperture 19 may be provided through the handle body immediately below the light bulb 89 to permit light therefrom to be directed down-- wardly into the body of the bag 13, when the b 39 is open. An opening 89 is provided in the sic... of the handle body opposite the bulb 69 so that light may be directed through the handle of the bag when desired.

To assist in illuminating the interior of the bag I prefer to provide curved plastic strips 8! and 82 which extend from a point close to the bulb 69 to a point within the] body 49 of the bag B. The rods 8! and 82 are supported with one end 83 and 84 respectively in close proximity with the bulb 69 so that light emanating from this bulb will be directed longitudinally through these plastic rods 8! and 82. The lower extremities 85 and 86 of the rods are positioned near the ends of the bag B so as to direct light toward the bottom of the bag near the ends thereof. The plastic rods extend through the hollow side portions 52 and 53 of the handle 51 to enter the body of the bag.

The manner in which the interior of a hand bag may be illuminated has been described in detail. I prefer to provide a means of directing light directly into the bag from the bulb and also desire to provide a means of conducting light into the body of the bag through plastic rods capable of bending the rays of light. As a result there is no danger of breaking the bulb when placing articles into the bag or removing them therefrom and the rods 8| and 82 which do extend into the bag body are not easily damaged or 50 broken.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my illuminated hand bag, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodi merit thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An illuminated hand bag comprising a hand bag body, a light bulb supported thereby, a current supply means electrically connected to said light bulb to supply current thereto, and plastic rod means capable of conducting light supported adjacent said light bulb to receive light therefrom, said plastic rod means extending toward the ends of said bag body said rods being formed to direct light inwardly from opposite ends of the bag.

2. An illuminated hand bag comprising a hand bag body, a handle supported thereby, a light bulb supported by said handle, plastic rod means capable of conducting light, said rod means extending from a point adjacent said light bulb into the interior of said bag.

3. An illuminated hand bag comprising a hand bag body, a handle therefor, a light bulb supported by said handle, and a pair of plastic rods capable of transmitting light, said rods being supported with one end of each of said rods adjacent said light bulb, and the other end of each rod positioned within said bag body said rods being formed to direct light inwardly and downwardly from near the bag ends.

EDWARD I-I. TERLINDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,186,143 Neugass Jan. 9, 1940 2,187,308 Fuss Jan. 16, 1940 2,227,368 Rylsky Dec. 31, 1940 2,227,861 Petrone Jan. 7, 1941 2,247,258 Shepard June 24, 1941 2,286,014 Rowe June 9, 1942 2,288,493 Smith June 30, 1942 2,300,108 Curle Oct. 27, 1942 2,316,419 Hallbauer Apr. 13, 1943 2,834,084 Gold et a1 Nov. 9, 1943 2,373,390 Fuss Apr. 10, 1945 2,465,029 Meggs Mar. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 802,192 France June 6, 1936 883,555 France Mar. 29, 1943 

